# Eileen Walsh

Eileen Walsh (born 16 April 1977) is an Irish actress. Her credits include Miss Julie (1999), Janice Beard 45 WPM (1999), When Brendan Met Trudy (2000), The Magdalene Sisters (2002), Pure Mule (2005), Eden (2008), The End (2008), Catastrophe (2015), The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.

## Biography

Born and raised in Cork, Ireland, Walsh was raised in a Catholic household, and had no intention of becoming an actress, until she followed in the footsteps of her elder sister Catherine, who was also an actress. A young Eileen began to attend theatre workshops and her first break came when, as a student, in 1996, she landed the role of Runt in the stage version of Disco Pigs, alongside Cillian Murphy, who played her friend. She was later heartbroken when losing that role to Elaine Cassidy in the 2001 film version.
She worked alongside Peter Mullan in Miss Julie (1999). In 1999, she played the titular character in Janice Beard 45 WPM, alongside Rhys Ifans, Patsy Kensit and Eddie Marsan. She starred in When Brendan Met Trudy (2000).
In 2002, she played the role of Crispina in The Magdalene Sisters, where her character was beaten and humiliated by nuns, forced to strip, and sexually abused by a Roman Catholic Priest. Her performance earned her a nomination for British Supporting Actress of the Year at the 2002 London Film Critics' Circle Awards.
She featured as Therese Farrell in Pure Mule (2005), and as Breda Farrell in the film Eden (2008), and the same year she played jessica in the short film The End.
In 2008, Walsh won the award for Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival for her portrayal of Breda, a lonely housewife whose willpower is put to the test in the film Eden.
Her film career continued with The Children Act (2017), Maze (2017), Wolf (2021), and Ann (2022).
In 2023, Walsh was the recipient of the Kerry Film Festival (KIFF), Maureen O’Hara Award, a recognition of achievement for women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media.

## Personal life

Walsh is married, lived in London (2009), and has two children.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | The Van | Crushed Girl | |
| 1997 | Messaggi quasi segreti | 2nd Kid | |
| 1997 | The Last Bus Home | Carole | |
| 1999 | Miss Julie | Servant | |
| 1999 | Janice Beard 45 WPM | Janice Beard | |
| 2000 | When Brendan Met Trudy | Siobhan | |
| 2001 | Look | Trish | Short film |
| 2002 | The Magdalene Sisters | Crispina | |
| 2002 | Nicholas Nickleby | The Infant Phenomenon | |
| 2005 | 33X Around the Sun | Ruth | |
| 2008 | Eden | Breda Farrell | |
| 2008 | The End | Jessica | Short film |
| 2009 | Triage | Dr. Christopher | |
| 2009 | The Ballad of Kid Kanturk | Mona | Short film |
| 2010 | Snap | Chris | |
| 2017 | The Children Act | Naomi Henry | |
| 2017 | Maze | Kate Marley | |
| 2019 | Rialto | Paula Grainger | |
| 2021 | Wolf | Dr. Angeli | |
| 2022 | Ann | Patricia | |
| 2024 | Small Things Like These | Eileen Furlong | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Lula Fantastic | (voice) | TV short |
| 2005 | Pure Mule | Therese Farrell | 5 episodes |
| 2015–19 | Catastrophe | Kate | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Can't Cope, Won't Cope | Pharmacist Geraldine O'Neill | Episode: "I Wanna Be Like You" |
| 2016 | Delicious | Marianne Khan | Episode: "Death Comes to All" |
| 2017 | On the Hemline | Martha | TV movie |
| 2018 | Patrick Melrose | Annette | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Women on the Verge | Alison | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The South Westerlies | Kate | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Modern Love | Lily De Courcy | Episode: "A Second Embrace, With Eyes Open" |
| 2022 | Death in Paradise | Orla Mills | Episode: "The Phone-In Murder" |
Radio :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022 | Breathing Space | Ciara Fitzpatrick | Radio play by Dorothy Cotter |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2004 | London Film Critics' Circle Award | British Supporting Actress of the Year | The Magdalene Sisters | Nominated |
| 2008 | Tribeca Film Festival | Best Actress | Eden | Won |
| 2005 | IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress in Television | Pure Mule | Won |
| 2009 | IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role Film | Eden | Won |
| 2011 | IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role Film | Snap | Nominated |
| 2023 | IFTA Film & Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress - Film | Ann | Nominated |
| 2023 | Kerry Film Festival | Maureen O’Hara Award | Women who have excelled in film, TV and/or media | Won |